Metal nanoparticle array structure, device for producing same, and method for producing same

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a metal nanoparticle array structure in which metal nanoparticle arrays are firmly bonded to the substrate thereof via chemical bonding or the like and in which the coverage with the metal nanoparticle arrays is high. The problem can be solved by using a metal nanoparticle array structure 10 that comprises a substrate 1 , a immobilizing layer 2 formed on one surface 1 a of the substrate 1 , and metal nanoparticle arrays 3 formed on one surface 2 a of the immobilizing layer 2 , wherein the metal nanoparticle arrays 3 are so arrayed that multiple metal nanoparticles 4 can be at regular intervals and the metal nanoparticles 4 are bonded to each other via the modifying part 5 arranged on a surface thereof while the metal nanoparticles 4 are immobilized on one surface 2 a of the immobilizing layer 2 via chemical bonds.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A metal nanoparticle array structure comprising:
 a substrate, 
 an immobilizing layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and 
 metal nanoparticle arrays formed on one surface of the immobilizing layer, wherein: 
 the metal nanoparticle arrays are so arrayed that multiple metal nanoparticles are at regular intervals, 
 the metal nanoparticles are bonded to each other via a modifying part arranged on a surface thereof, and the modifying part comprises an organic molecule having a thiol group, 
 the immobilizing layer comprises an organic molecule having at least one thiol group, and the thiol group is arranged on one surface of the immobilizing layer, and 
 the metal nanoparticles are immobilized on the one surface of the immobilizing layer via chemical bonds of the thiol groups of the immobilizing layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a gap distance between the metal nanoparticles is from 1 to 10 nm. 
     
     
       3. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a particle size of the metal nanoparticles is from 1 to 100 nm. 
     
     
       4. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles are formed of gold. 
     
     
       5. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the organic molecule of the modifying part has an alkyl chain with from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       6. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the immobilizing layer comprises an organic molecule having at least two thiol groups, at least one thiol group is arranged on both one surface and the other surface of the immobilizing layer, and the thiol group on the other surface is bonded to the substrate. 
     
     
       7. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the organic molecule to constitute the immobilizing layer has an alkyl chain with from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       8. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is an electroconductive substrate. 
     
     
       9. The metal nanoparticle array structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises an insulating substrate having an electroconductive thin film formed on one surface thereof.